¹⁵ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the ^(A)promise.

¹⁷ (as it is written, ^(A)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, ^(B)who gives life to the dead and calls those ^(C)things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ^(D)“So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, ^(E)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), ^(F)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised ^(G)He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore ^(H)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now ^(I)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe ^(J)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ^25 (K)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and ^(L)was raised because of our justification.

¹² that you do not become ^[a]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience ^(A)inherit the promises.

^7 (A)But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and ^[a]grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

^2 (A)But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, ^(B)seeing I ^[a]go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed ^(C)one^[b] born in my house is my heir!”

⁴ And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who ^(D)will come from your own body shall be your heir.” ⁵ Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and ^(E)count the ^(F)stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, ^(G)“So shall your ^(H)descendants be.”

⁶ And he ^(I)believed in the Lord, and He ^(J)accounted it to him for righteousness.

The Just Live by Faith

² Then the Lord answered me and said:

² For Sarah ^(A)conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, ^(B)at the set time of which God had spoken to him. ³ And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—^(C)Isaac.^{[a] 4} Then Abraham ^(D)circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, ^(E)as God had commanded him. ⁵ Now ^(F)Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ And Sarah said, ^(G)“God has ^[b]made me laugh, and all who hear ^(H)will laugh with me.” ⁷ She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? ^(I)For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

¹⁶ And I will bless her ^(A)and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother ^(B)of nations; ^(C)kings of peoples shall be from her.”

¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face ^(D)and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”